Boat storage rack

ABSTRACT

A rowing boats storage rack system for rowing boats comprising at least one “L” shaped frame, a moving head beam with a roller assembly, a winch assembly, a winch control, at least one rack arm with a roller assembly, a roller linkage assembly and a safety guard.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a configurable storage rack for securelysupporting a multiplicity of rowing boats during storage, and moreparticularly to a storage rack which is capable of being collapsed whenthe storage rack is in its normally upright position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

At present, handling and storage of rowing boats and related equipmentsuch as oars is typically managed by the users manually lifting andmoving these boats and equipment to and from rowing sheds totransporting equipment such as trolleys and or direct to water.Conventional rowing boat storage racks are typically made of fixedhorizontal and vertical struts up to a height generally set by how far arowing boat user/s can safely lift to when storing and removing theirrowing boat, which often restricts the number of rowing boats that canbe stored vertically or horizontally within a defined storage area.Further, these conventional storage racks are typically fixeddimensionally for the one type of rowing boat, limiting the ability tostore varying size and weight rowing boats. The increase of occupationalsafety regulation and requirements has also limited the amount of weighta person can carry and how high they can lift it.

Conventional rowing boat storage racks are generally made of strongmaterials such as steel, and are therefore heavy and awkward to move,hence they require dedicated landscape or floor space to sit, whichoften restricts the number and type of boat storage racks that can beused within a defined storage area, hence again restricting the numberof rowing boats that can be stored safely and effectively. Further,rowing boat storage areas such as boat sheds tend to exist close towater foreshores where the price of land and floor space areas isrelatively high and often scarce, exacerbating the cost effectiveness ofconventional rowing boat storage rack systems.

It is an object of this present invention to overcome or substantiallyameliorate the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a rowing boatstorage rack system which reduces the incidence and amount of physicalinjury due to lifting heavy rowing boats, thereby permitting users tomore easily and safely move rowing boats to and from storage.

It is another object of this present invention to provide a rowing boatstorage rack system which reduces the floor area required to stand aboat storage rack system, thereby permitting users to increase thenumber of boat storage racks within a defined storage floor space area,which correspondingly increases the number of rowing boats that can bestored.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a boat storage rack system comprising atleast one “L” shaped frame, a head beam with a roller assembly, a winchassembly, a winch control, at least one rack arm with a roller assembly,a roller linkage assembly and a safety guard.

The arrangement is such that the “L” shaped frame is preferably a rightangle frame with a vertical straight back and horizontal flat basedbottom made of a metal material or any other suitable material, which isstrong, durable and meets the requirements of the invention. On thefront face and near the bottom of the “L” shaped frames is a pluralityof fixed struts aligned horizontally between each “L” shaped frame.Fixed on top and aligned horizontally between the top of the “L” shapedframes is fixed at least two struts which preferably have a winchassembly removably attached in their centre with braces angled downtowards the inside and bottom of the “L” shaped frames to providestability.

It is preferred that the winch assembly has a swivel hook that removablyconnects to the centre of the head beam. Preferably the head beam alignshorizontally between the “L” shaped frames and is fixed at either end toa roller assembly. Connected to the winch assembly is the winch controlthat has at least one switch or button which is adapted to activate andde-activate one or more features of the winch assembly.

It is preferred that the top side of the horizontal flat based bottom ispreferably adapted with fixed rollers that removably engage with theinside of an inverted “U” channel to enable the user to easily slidethis channel to retrieve and or store a rowing boat from the lowestpoint of the “L” shaped frames. Preferably fixed to the rear bottom ofthe vertical straight back and aligned upwards is the safety guard whichprovides protection between the storage rack user and the roller linkageassembly.

It is preferred that the roller assembly removably connects to theroller linkage assembly to enable users to adjust the required height ofthe rack arm to accommodate varying heights of rowing boats, and ispreferably attached at the rear end of the rack arm.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above recited features, advantages andobjects of the invention, as well as others which will become apparent,are attained and can be understood in detail, a more particulardescription of the invention briefly summarised above may be had byreference to the embodiments thereof illustrated in the appendeddrawings, which form part of this specification. It is noted, however,that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of theinvention and are not to be considered limiting of its scope, for theinvention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rowing boat storage rack;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of the roller assembly with rackarm;

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective view of the lower part of the “L”shaped frame;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of safety guard; and

FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of rollers and channel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The rowing boat storage rack system will be discussed for loading,securing, lifting and lowering a multiplicity of rowing boats of varyingsizes and shapes, however as will be appreciated the use of the boatstorage rack system is not limited thereto and may be used to load,secure and lift other water craft.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 7, a rowing boat storage rack is generallyreferred to as 1, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,is illustrated.

This invention provides a rowing boat storage rack 1 system includes atleast one “L” shaped frame 2, a head beam 3 with a roller assembly 4, awinch assembly 5, a winch control 6, at least one rack arm 7 with aroller assembly 8, a roller linkage assembly 9 and a safety guard 10.

The arrangement is such that the “L” shaped frame 2 is preferably aright angle frame with a vertical straight back 11 and horizontal flatbased bottom 12 made of a metal material or any other suitable material,which is strong, durable and meets the requirements of the invention.Fixed on top and aligned horizontally between the top of the “L” shapedframes 2 is fixed two struts 13 which preferably have a winch assembly 5removably attached to the pivot pin 14 in the centre 15 of these struts13, and equidistance either side from this centre 15 along each strut 13is fixed a brace 16 which angles outwards and down fixing to the rearand bottom end of the vertical straight back 11 to provide lateralstability. Preferably the winch assembly 5 has a swivel hook 17 hangingdown underneath that removably connects to a bolt 18 fixed in the centreof the head beam 3. Preferably the head beam 3 aligns horizontallybetween the “L” shaped frames 2 and has fixed a roller assembly 4 ateither end that removably fit around the vertical straight back 11 ofthe “L” shaped frame 2, with the roller assembly 4 removably connectedby an adjustable length turnbuckle 19 to the closest rack arm 7underneath.

Preferably at the front and rear at the bottom of the horizontal flatbased bottom 12 of the “L” shaped frame 2 are holes 20 on either side ofthe frame bottom 12 to enable the user of the storage rack 1 to securethe frame 2 to the underneath ground to minimise unwanted movement.Fixed on top and between the “L” shaped frames 2 are two horizontallyaligned struts 13 which have anti-wear material attached on the insidefacing surfaces to minimise wear from frictional movement from braces 16which have a pivot pin 14 fixed between the centre 15 of the struts 13that is free to rotate around the pin's 15 axis which provides a hangingpoint to removably attach the winch assembly 5. The top side of thehorizontal flat based bottom 12 is preferably adapted with fixed rollers21 that removably engage with the inside of an inverted “U” channel 22to enable the channel 22 to move forwards and backwards from thevertical straight back 11 to enable the user to easily retrieve and orstore a rowing boat from the lowest point of the “L” shaped frame 2.

The safety guard 10 is preferably made of a rigid and strong sheetmaterial with a profile shape that is fixed at the rear bottom of thevertical straight back 11 and aligned vertically upwards to midway alongthe vertical straight back 11 to provide protection between the user andthe moving parts of the boat storage rack 1 with a top opening 23 widerthan its base 24 and large enough to enable the roller assemblies 8 androller linkage assemblies 9 to move unimpeded up and down the verticalstraight back 11 with or without a rowing boat by the winch assembly 5.

Attached beneath the winch assembly 5 is preferably a swivel hook 17with a pivoting point 25 at the top of the hook 18 which removablyattaches below to a bolt 18 fixed in the centre 15 of the head beam 3.Connected to the winch assembly 5 is the winch control 6 that has atleast one switch or button which is adapted to activate and de-activateone or more features of the winch assembly 5 and retractable locking pin26 which has provided a physical key lock-out mechanism for the user tohold the head beam 3 and connected rack arm 7 at any particular height.Preferably the winch control 6 extends down vertically to a height thatis accessible by the user and enables the user to easily and remotelycontrol the winch assembly 5 to move the head beam 3 and connected rackarm 7 up or down with or without rowing boats. Preferably theretractable locking pin 26 is fixed horizontally and aligned parallelwithin the safety box 27 above the head beam 3 which when activated bythe sensor 28 removably engages with the straight through hole of thelocking plate 29.

Preferably the head beam 3 aligns horizontally between the “L” shapedframes 2 and has fixed at either end of the beam 3 a roller assembly 4that removably fits around the vertical straight backs 11 of the “L”shaped frame 2. The head beam 3 is preferably adapted with an anti-wearmaterial at either end to ensure the beam 3 does not wear by contactwith the surface of the vertical straight back 11 when moving up anddown. Preferably the locking plate 29 is fixed vertically to the top ofa strut 30 which removably engages with the retractable locking pin 26when the top end of the locking plate 29 touches the sensor 28 to lockthe head beam 3 at its highest vertical storage position. The rollerassembly 4 is preferably adapted to be removably connected to anadjustable length turnbuckle 19 positioned vertically along the frontside 31 of the vertical straight back 11 and is preferably removablyattached at the rear end of the closest rack arm 7 to enable users toadjust the required height of the closest rack arm 7 to accommodatevarying heights of boats. The roller assembly 4 preferably has provideda front 32 and rear roller 33 that are positioned tightly on the outerand inner side of the vertical straight backs 11 to roll up and downwhen the winch assembly 5 is activated by the winch controls 6.Preferably the roller assembly 4 is held in position around the verticalstraight backs 11 by parallel metal plates 34 that are mirror images ofeach other and are aligned at an angle upwards from the head beam 3which have holes 35 to removably engage with the axial of the front 32and rear roller 33. The adjustable length turnbuckle 19 has provided anadjustable hook and eyelet at both ends which removably engage with thefront metal plate 34 and the rear end of the closest rack arm 7,Advantageously, the front 32 and rear roller 33 assist in reducinglateral movement of the head beam 3 whilst maintaining a preferredvertical movement of the roller assembly 4.

The rack arm 7 is preferably adapted to be removably attached at therear to the roller assembly 8 and positioned perpendicularly forwardsfrom the front side 31 of the vertical straight back 11 and horizontallyabove the flat based bottom 12 which is made of a metal tube likematerial or any other suitable material, which is strong, durable andmeets the requirements of the invention with anti-wear material attachedon the top surface. The roller assembly 8 preferably has provided afront 36 and rear roller 37 that are aligned relatively to each other atan angle from the horizontal upwards from the front roller 36 to therear roller 37 and positioned tightly on the front and rear side of thevertical straight backs 11 to roll up and down when the winch assembly 5is activated by the winch controls 6. Preferably the roller assembly 8is held in position around the vertical straight backs 11 by metalplates 38 of a similar shape with holes 39 to removably engage with theaxial of the front 36 and rear roller 37. The roller linkage assembly 9has provided a connecting strap with holes 40 at either end to removablyengaged around the axial of the front roller 36 of a roller assembly 8and then subsequently removably engaged around the axial of anotherfront roller 36 of the underneath roller assembly 8 to provide a securelink between each row of rack arms 7. The roller linkage assembly 9 isprovided with varying lengths to accommodate the varying heights ofboats. Advantageously, the front 36 and rear roller 37 assist inreducing lateral movement of the rack arm 7 whilst maintaining apreferred vertical movement of the roller assemblies 9.

Finally, it is to be understood that the inventive concept in any of itsaspects can be incorporated in many different constructions so that thegenerality of the preceding description is not to be superseded by theparticularity of the attached drawings. Various alterations,modifications and/or additions may be incorporated into the variousconstructions and arrangements of parts without departing from thespirit or ambit of the invention.

1. A rowing boats storage rack system for rowing boats utilising a “L”shaped frame comprising of two “L” shaped sections joined together witha fixed head beam section and two diagonal brace sections, a winchassembly, which has a winch control, is bolted to the “L” shaped framehead beam; the winch is connected, via a moving chain, to a moving headbeam and boat storage arms that move up and down the vertical part ofthe “L” frame via roller assemblies, the moving head beam has a rollerassembly on each end which is connected, at 90 degrees to the rollerassembly of the top most arm, each rack arm is then connect to the onebelow it, via a roller linkage assembly connected to the roller assemblyaxis axles, the arms are situated above the horizontal part of the “L”frame, a safety Guard is fixed at the base of the “L” shaped frame tostop the arms' roller assembly axles pinching people while moving to thecompressed position, while a sensor activated retractable locking pinholds the moving head beam in the uppermost position.
 2. A rowing boatsstorage rack system where the arrangement allows as per claim 1 theremoval and stowage of any rowing boat within its structure using aside-on placement movement while also allowing for the vertical movementof rowing boats from a safe working height to a height above which aperson can safely reach.
 3. A rowing boats storage rack system accordingto claim 1, wherein the “L” shaped frame is a right angle frame with avertical straight back and horizontal flat based bottom made of asuitable material which is strong, durable and can support the movementof the moving head beam and each roller assembly and rack arm.
 4. Arowing boats storage rack system according to claim 3, wherein thebottom of the horizontal flat based bottom of the “L” shaped frame hasprovided holes on either side to enable the storage rack to be securedto the ground stopping the “L” frame from moving horizontally so thehead beam can move vertically without binding against the “L” frame. 5.A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 1, wherein asafety box is attached to the fixed head beam section to hold inposition a sensor and retractable locking pin.
 6. A rowing boats storagerack system according to claim 1, wherein the linear centre of the fixedhead beam section is provided a pivot bolt to enable the winch motorhook of the winch assembly to be removably attached.
 7. A rowing boatsstorage rack system according to claim 1, wherein equidistance eitherside of a pivot bolt along the fixed beam head section is provided afixed brace which angles downwards to fix to the bottom and rear of the“L” shaped frame which stabilises the rack system.
 8. A rowing boatsstorage rack system according to claim 6, wherein the winch assembly'smoving chain has a removably attached swivel hook hanging downunderneath to removably connect to the centre of the moving head beam.9. A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 1, wherein themoving head beam aligns horizontally between the “L” shaped frames andhas a bolt fixed at the linear centre of the beam.
 10. A rowing boatsstorage rack system according to claim 1, wherein the moving head beamhas fixed a roller assembly at either end of the moving head beam whichremovably fit around the vertical straight back of the “L” shapedsections within the “L” shaped frame to guide the moving head beam upand down.
 11. A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 5,wherein the moving head beam has fixed vertically upwards a strut andlocking plate to removably engage with the retractable locking pin. 12.A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 10, wherein theroller assembly has fixed parallel metal plates which have correspondingand aligned holes to removably engage with the axis of a front rollerand rear roller.
 13. A rowing boats storage rack system according toclaim 12, wherein the metal plates are aligned at an angle upwards fromthe end of the moving head beam to hold the front roller and rear rollerin position around the vertical straight back of the “L” shaped sectionswithin the “L” shaped frame.
 14. A rowing boats storage rack systemaccording to claim 13, wherein the metal plate has removably attached anadjustable length turnbuckle to removably connect to the topmost rackarm.
 15. A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 14,wherein the adjustable length turnbuckle has provided an adjustable hookand adjustable eyelet at either end.
 16. A rowing boats storage racksystem according to claim 1, wherein the top side of the horizontal flatbased bottom of the “L” shaped frame is provided with fixed rollers thatremovably engage with the inside of an inverted “U” channel.
 17. Arowing boats storage rack system according to claim 16, wherein theinverted “U” channel can be manually moved forwards and backwards by auser along the bottom of the “L” shaped frame to retrieve and store arowing boat.
 18. A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim1, wherein the winch assembly has connected a winch control that enablesthe user to move the moving head beam and connected roller assembly andrack arm up or down with or without rowing boats
 19. A rowing boatsstorage rack system according to claim 1, wherein the winch control hasat least one switch which is adapted to activate and de-activate one ormore features of the winch assembly, sensor and retractable locking pin.20. A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 19, whereinthe winch control has provided a physical key lock-out mechanism for theuser to hold the moving head beam and connected roller assembly and rackarm at any particular height.
 21. A rowing boats storage rack systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the safety guard is preferably made of arigid and strong sheet material which is fixed at the rear bottom of theof the “L” shaped frame to provide protection from pinching injuriesbetween the user and the moving parts of the boat storage rack.
 22. Arowing boats storage rack system according to claim 1, wherein the rackarm is made of a metal tube like material or any other suitably strongmaterial which is welded or attached at the rear to a roller assembly.23. A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 22, whereinthe rack arm is provided with anti-wear material attached on rack arm'sthe top surface to minimise abrasion between the rack arm and a rowingboat.
 24. A rowing boats storage rack system according to claim 22,wherein the roller assembly has fixed parallel metal plates which havecorresponding and aligned holes to removably engage with the axis of afront roller and rear roller.
 25. A rowing boats storage rack systemaccording to claim 24, wherein the metal plates are aligned at an angleupwards from the rear end of the rack arm to hold the front roller andrear roller in position around the vertical straight back of the “L”shaped sections within the “L” shaped frame to roll, vertically, up anddown when the winch assembly is activated.
 26. A rowing boats storagerack system according to claim 1, wherein the roller linkage assemblyhas provided a connecting strap with holes at either end which removablyengage with the axis of the front roller of a roller assemblies toprovide a secure link between each row of rack arms.
 27. A rowing boatsstorage rack system according to claim 26, wherein the connecting strapis provided with varying lengths to accommodate the varying heights ofrowing boats.